Parliamentary questions

Brian Adam

1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in any discussions about the review of forensic pathology services in England and Wales and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The review of forensic pathology services in England and Wales was commissioned by the Home Office. The Scottish Executive was aware of the review and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provided information regarding the position in Scotland.

7 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the Crown Office tendering process for forensic pathology services.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31353 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…

7 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the provision of forensic pathology services to the procurator fiscal service.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Crown Office currently contracts with the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee for the provision of forensic pathology services across Scotland. Discussions are currently under way with service providers about future provision of servic…

7 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce prudential borrowing for local authority housing and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In my Housing Policy Announcement to Parliament on 7 November, I stated my intention to include local authority housing capital finance within the new Prudential Regime.

6 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the level of voids in local authority housing.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Accounts Commission collects information on void levels in local authorities, which is published annually. The management of voids is, however, a matter for individual local authorities.

21 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) North East Scotland Transport Partnership and (d) Railtrack or its successor body about the reopening of Laurencekirk station.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Proposals to reopen a particular station are for the local transport authority or transport partnership. In this case any such proposals would, therefore, be for Aberdeenshire Council or NESTRANS to bring forward.

21 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the reletting of the rail franchise in Scotland, what consideration it has given to the introduction of rail services that stop at Laurencekirk station and what the outcome was of any such consideration.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Proposals to reopen a particular station are matters for the local transport authority or transport partnership. The Scottish Executive's Directions and Guidance (D&G) to the Strategic Rail Authority set out ministers' high level priorities for the nex…

16 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for a heart operation in each NHS cardiac centre in 2001-02 for (a) NHS and (b) private patients.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting time for NHS patients admitted from the in-patient and day case waiting list and for private patients who had undergone heart operations, at each of the four adult cardiac centres, in the year ended 31 March 2002, are given in the following…

16 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cardiothoracic procedures were (a) completed and (b) performed on (i) NHS and (ii) private patients at each NHS cardiac centre in 2001-02; what the maximum capacity of each centre was, and whether there were any constraints in increasing capacity to reduce NHS waiting times.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of cardiothoracic procedures performed on NHS and private patients discharged from each of the four Adult Cardiac Centres in Scotland during the year ended 31 March 2002 is given in the following table. NHSScotland: Number of Cardiothoracic Proc…

8 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any funding mismatches between local authorities will be addressed as part of the Cities Review.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Cities Review has examined a range of issues relevant to our cities, including funding mechanisms and allocations.

26 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the procedures for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issuing pollution prevention and control licences.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is continuously developing its procedures and decision-making processes in relation to issuing pollution prevention and control permits. SEPA is currently reviewing particular aspects of the application and de…

26 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support the development of sports for seniors.

Answer · Elaine Murray: We remain committed to the ethos of sport for all regardless of age. Sportscotland has committed significant funds to widening opportunities and its target set in 2000 of increasing the percentage of adults over 55 participating in sport from 34% to 45…

26 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29089 on 20 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:<A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliame…

12 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its capital budget in each of the last three financial years was for projects greater than #10 million and what proportion of such projects were PFI/PPP projects.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This information has to be collected from various departments. I will write to the member with the information early November. A copy of this information will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

12 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its capital budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive's capital budget for the financial years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 was as listed:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=170><TR><TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP">2000-01</TD><TD WIDTH="61%" VALIGN="TOP">£1,364 million</TD><…

5 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of ministers' and deputy ministers' ministerial diaries.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No.

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28078 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 August 2002, what the duties are of the website team.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The duties of the news website team are:To create and maintain a regularly-updated news and information website that reflects the Executive's commitment to open and accessible government.A revamped news website, Executive News Online, was launched on 2 …

3 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-28078 by Mr Andy Kerr on 28 August 2002, what the (a) salary and (b) other costs are of the website team.

Answer · Andy Kerr: News website team comprises:One Editor (£39,140 - £54,656) and two Assistant Editors (£18,926 - £25,011).The news website has an operating budget for 2002-03 of £140,000. A revamped news website, Executive News Online, was launched on 2 September 200…

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28074 by Mr Frank McAveety on 26 August 2002, whether it has any plans, in line with the practice of the Secretary of State for Health, to review its recently introduced regulations on the si'e of rooms and other matters in residential care facilitie…

Answer · Frank McAveety: The statutory requirements on care services are set out in The Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2002. The Executive has no current plans to review these regulations.The requirements relating to the size of rooms …

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #100 million it announced in September 2000 to tackle illicit drug misuse has been allocated to each (a) local authority and (b) NHS board, also on a per capita basis.

Answer · Richard Simpson: /www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.Table 1<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=49>Local Authority</TD><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=49>Population</TD><TD WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP" …

28 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #100 million it announced in September 2000 to tackle illicit drug misuse remains unallocated and when it will announce the disbursement of the remaining monies.

Answer · Richard Simpson: All of the £100 million expenditure package has been allocated on the basis of a three-year programme, to remove uncertainties about funding at local level and encourage sustained activity. The following table gives a breakdown of the allocations:<TABLE BORDE…

6 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will highlight in its road safety campaigns difficulties caused by diesel spills.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provides funds to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the production of key road safety education initiatives and publicity campaigns. The campaign's business plan for 2002-03 includes publicity on major causes of road accident fatali…

6 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the enforcement of legislation in respect of diesel spills on roads.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The enforcement of legislation in this area is a matter for the police, the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.